How is one supposed to keep the quilted quilt rolled up square and neatly on the small 5-foot frame with the Simply Sixteen? How did HQ envision that the Quilter would use this simplified two bar system? I’ve found the experience to be frustrating? Would leaders help?

Also, my Groovy Boards tend to shift as I use the stylus to stitch out a design. How do you suggest stabilizing the Groovy Boards? Now, I’m using books, sturdy catalogues, and wood blocks. There must be a better way. The videos I’ve watched by your educators show using a few strips of painters tape. That system doesn’t hold them still. Please guide me with this problem.

Additionally, the tip on the stylus for the Groovy Board is not sturdy. Mine cracked off after 5 hours of quilting. I wonder why you would not use a metal stylus.

I would greatly appreciate any assistance with these issues with my Simply Sixteen. So far, i am disappointed. Tension is the least of my problems. I have issues with craftsmanship and design of the accessories to the machine.

I use duct tape to attach my groovy boards and it works well. I noticed mine were slipping at first and turned one over and noticed that there were extra rings taped to the back and they were causing slippage due to the fact that they raised the board enough that the friction stuff on the back wasn't connecting with the table. I hope this helps in the meantime. :-)

I love my Simply Sixteen with groovy boards and free-motion designs. All of my smaller quilts go to Children's Services in our county for foster children going through the system. Each child is given a quilt upon entry that they can keep forever. I want to do a sturdy edge-to-edge design on these quilts. I saw a large edge to edge machine that was way above my budget, but I believe I can emulate these designs in a professional manner with my groovy boards and Little Foot if I can make them dense enough. Are there secrets for edge-to-edge results with groovy boards? I would go to a class here in Oregon if I could find one, just for this purpose. Are there some groovy board designs just for edge-to-edge? If I could afford a Pro-Stitcher I would have one by now!!

Jennie, you can have a professional looking quilt with your Simply Sixteen just like the bigger machines. You need at least two of the same groovy boards. They are placed together on your table and you quilt to the start of the second board, stop and move the first board to the other side of the second. Repeat these moves until you have quilted from one edge to the other. Now if you can afford to purchase multiple boards then you wouldn't have to move any of them. Most boards are less that two feet long. They come in edge to edge, block and border. Handi Quilter has groovy boards as well as Urban Elements. I use groovy boards exclusively on my 10ft studio frame with a Simply Sixteen. The only difference between the Sixteen and a bigger machine is the width of the throat, which of course limits the width of a pattern you can do. By the way, all machines can make edge to edge patterns on a quilt. Also, you may want to think about a studio frame which can be set up from either eight ft or ten ft. Hope this helps you. The Sixteen is a great little machine and can make your quilts look professional.